The UK government has indicated that its support for Israel is 'not unconditional' amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with Foreign Secretary David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden making statements that highlight a nuanced stance on the matter. Cameron suggested that Britain's backing hinges on Israel's compliance with international humanitarian law, especially in light of the killing of seven aid workers and the broader implications of Israel's military actions in Gaza. Dowden, while acknowledging Israel's 'big mistakes', emphasized the UK's ongoing dialogue with Israel to improve its operations and the lack of plans to change arms export rules. Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy has called for transparency, urging the government to publish legal advice on arms sales to Israel and to unequivocally commit to international law. Amidst this, there are calls from over 600 legal professionals for the UK to reassess its arms sales to Israel, with the government facing pressure to publish its legal advice concerning the legality of continuing arms exports under international law.
David Cameron to set out UK basis for continuing arms sales to Israel https://t.co/HnPC7lvGuF
UK has 'duty' to support Israel, minister says - as row rolls on over arms sales Full story ⬇️ https://t.co/JF24VnEsYM
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is calling on the government to publish the legal advice it received regarding the exporting of arms to Israel. https://t.co/JzgR32RtaG 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/b3mV8hMeWT
Israel “abides by the rule of law”, a Cabinet minister said as the Government continued to refuse to publish legal advice on whether the offensive in Gaza has broken international humanitarian rules ✍️: @DavidHughesPA and @claudiasavage24 https://t.co/YvXABtjKwj
The government is continuing to refuse to publish legal advice on whether Israel has broken international humanitarian laws in Gaza due to a ‘long-standing convention’, says Mel Stride But there is no change on the UK’s commitment to sending arms to Israel https://t.co/e9ZiIkIEHJ
Advice on UK arms sales to Israel has not changed, deputy PM Oliver Dowden says https://t.co/OrIWAzEdvQ
"We are a critical friend of Israel, and there are some things that we are deeply concerned about..." Mel Stride tells @NickFerrariLBC there isn't 'any split' in the Cabinet between Lord Cameron and Deputy PM Oliver Dowden over whether or not to suspend arms sales. https://t.co/fA54syrnb9
Britain can continue selling weapons to Israel lawfully despite the death toll in Gaza, the deputy prime minister has insisted, as pressure mounts on the government to publish its legal advice about the war ⬇️ https://t.co/gyFi152wBy
'Is it still legal for the UK to send arms to Israel?' @KayBurley asks Shadow Health Minister for Women's Health and Mental Health @abenaopp 'I think it is really concerning and we really need to see the legal advice... It needs to be published', she says. 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/7waTGLLdXx
"Israel is a democratic country. It's a rules based country. It's a part of our broader Western family of nations." The Deputy Prime Minister of the UK spoke to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, claiming that Israel is conducting a 'legitimate' campaign in Gaza, and that the UK will… https://t.co/RgG2sTb6Wh
"600+ legal brains say the government is breaching international law by continuing to arm Israel. Why are you not listening to them? @KayBurley asks @MelJStride The Foreign Office will be "assessing" the issues raised, he says. https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 📺 Sky 501 and YouTube https://t.co/LUJKF8jjBt
The Jerusalem Post's Zvika Klein says he "was appalled" to hear Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron suggesting UK support for Israel is not unconditional. "Making that type of a statement is something that harms Israel." @drdavidbull | @nicolathorp_ | @ZvikaKlein https://t.co/Hk16vgBUU2
🇮🇱 “If by continuing to supply arms to Israel we become complicit in breaches of international humanitarian law, then we need to take that very seriously.” @politicshome spoke to former ambassador Sir William Patey https://t.co/MIbSJvLMpB
“Our backing is not unconditional.” Foreign Secretary David Cameron says the UK expects Israel to ‘abide by international humanitarian law’ as the war on Gaza enters its seventh month https://t.co/eOWZPPt6hG https://t.co/k95YlS8DMj
Israel at war, day 184: U.K. support for Israel not unconditional, FM Cameron says https://t.co/ZmrEQIv2OK
Advice on UK arms sales to Israel has not changed, says deputy prime minister https://t.co/2SV16n11Np
Deputy PM Oliver Dowden has accused Israel of making "big mistakes" during the conflict in Gaza and insisted the UK government is "holding them to a very high standard". https://t.co/xskDPJQtDo https://t.co/GX76dJwHGW
‘’The time has now come to review the policy…at least for the disrespect on international humanitarian law that has happened on Israel's side.’’ David Cameron could cut aid support due to possible breaches of humanitarian international law by the Israelis, says @SimonFraser00 https://t.co/3UV1Ts2u2W
Something is going on here / DPM refuses to say UK govt legal advice to Ministers states Israel has abided by IHL but instead says foreign secretary’s advice to the business secretary is that UK can still sell arms to Israel. Reasonable to assume Dowden a strong supporter of… https://t.co/nwGzDnTEjQ
Advice on UK arms sales to Israel has not changed, says Dowden https://t.co/xbhSr32gBK
The only person who can provide answers on the government's legal advice around continued arms sales to Israel is @David_Cameron. He must stop dodging scrutiny, publish the legal advice and take questions from MPs. It's vital the UK is not complicit in any breach. #bbclaurak https://t.co/7gAVp1oRHe
Oliver Dowden Says UK Will Stop Arms Sales To Israel If It Breaks International Law https://t.co/EndEjiH86W
“I do think on issues of war actually a summary of that [legal] advice is very important” Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy says a Labour government would publish summaries of legal advice and calls on the government to do the same #BBCLauraK https://t.co/8HqbbyAbDX https://t.co/KXwuWzFHYX
‘There is no reason for arms exports not to continue.’ Deputy PM Oliver Dowden doesn’t think the UK should ban armed sales to Israel. https://t.co/fnJfVYWT6x
“It is hugely important that the UK is not complicit” Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy says he has “very real concerns” that Britain’s obligations under international law “might have been breached” as a result of Israel’s actions in Gaza #BBCLauraK https://t.co/8HqbbyAbDX https://t.co/irn3LmGlHF
"If the UK government receives legal advice that says Israel is in breach of international law, will arms sales stop?" asks #BBCLauraK "We will of course act in accordance with our obligations under law" says Deputy PM Oliver Dowden https://t.co/8HqbbyAbDX https://t.co/OBbpTlGN2G
"I think that Israel is conducting a legitimate campaign" Deputy PM Oliver Dowden says the foreign secretary's advice on the UK's arms supply to Israel "has not changed" #BBCLauraK https://t.co/8HqbbyAbDX https://t.co/7lu90eZ7T0
Most telling bit of @OliverDowden i/view with @bbclaurak was not him revealing Cameron's (current) judgement that arms sales to Israel can still go ahead. It was him refusing to deny @aliciakearns claim that FCDO lawyers advice js Israel is breaking international law on aid.
Striking difference of stance at top of government as David Cameron warns that UK’s support for Israel is “not unconditional” (S Times) Yet Oliver Dowden suggests Israel being held to “incredibly high standards” and that some are pushing case against it with “relish” (BBC/ Sky)
Cabinet split on Israel — as reported by @BloombergUK last week — on show today David Cameron warns Israel UK’s support is “not unconditional” But Oliver Dowden says Israel is being held to “incredibly high standards” and that some “relish” the chance to argue for an arms ban https://t.co/5xTqfK89Cr
"It's right we raise concerns... and Israel has engaged with these issues" Deputy PM Oliver Dowden says it's “too easy” for the world to "forget the horrors Israel faced" and hold it to standards "we wouldn't remotely hold other countries to" #BBCLauraK https://t.co/8HqbbyAbDX https://t.co/XNpv6jOjq5
🚨 BREAKING: Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy has called on the government to publish a summary of the legal advice it has received over Israel's alleged violation of international law in Gaza [@bbclaurak]
BREAKING: Oliver Dowden has accused Israel of making "big mistakes" during the conflict in Gaza and insisted the UK government is "holding them to a very high standard" Read more 🔗 https://t.co/ryfuIe90LA
Oliver Dowden says that critics of Israel are holding them to "extraordinarily high standards" https://t.co/QDqQzOLa2P
"I have serious concerns about a breach in international humanitarian law" Shadow Foreign Secretary @DavidLammy calls for the government to release legal advice, saying "far too many people have died" in Gaza. #TrevorPhillips https://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/5fHZDPpssW
Cameron. Admonishes Israel on aid, seeks aid agency seat on COGAT. Hamas can be dismantled politically not militarily, but if Hamas won’t do deal - UK backs two stage ceasefire - prepare for more war & Rafah attack not ruled out. Silent on IDF current compliance with IHL. https://t.co/w50fG4kVvv
Today I’ve written to @David_Cameron. We can’t have a Foreign Secretary dodging scrutiny on arms sales to Israel. He must: - Publish the foreign office legal advice. - Take questions from MPs in the Bar of the House of Commons. - Unequivocally commit to international law. https://t.co/bKYCfEWiLa
Today I’ve written to @David_Cameron. We can’t have a Foreign Secretary dodging scrutiny on on arms sales to Israel. He must: - Publish the foreign office legal advice. - Take questions from MPs in the Bar of the House of Commons. - Unequivocally commit to international law. https://t.co/i29EYSU3GZ
Deputy Prime Minister @OliverDowden accuses some people of taking "a bit of relish" from holding Israel to "incredibly high standards". He accepts Israel has made big mistakes and we should hold them to account for that. #TrevorPhillips https://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/i6T0asOM2G
'We're not giving carte blanche to Israel.' Deputy PM @OliverDowden says the UK has had "robust conversations" with Israel about 'improving the way they conduct their operation', but recognises the "terrible suffering" in Gaza #TrevorPhillips https://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF 📺Sky 501 https://t.co/mGjCMZlt9i
Deputy Prime Minister @OliverDowden says the Foreign Secretary receives "ongoing" legal action "periodically", adding there's currently no plan to change arms export rules to Israel. #TrevorPhillips https://t.co/fhIHlpTGAF 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/TBaHieF0x2
Britain’s support for Israel is “not unconditional”, the foreign secretary has said, raising the pressure on Binyamin Netanyahu over the killing of seven aid workers ⬇️ https://t.co/JLxyqXaYo1
The UK’s support for Israel is not unconditional, Lord David Cameron has suggested ✍: @Davi_Lynch https://t.co/izD8AnC8w5